Not a lot of competition for the treadmill

John Meyer: I was delighted to discover a workout room at the Main Press Center in Beijing. I can’t say for sure that it’s the first one at an Olympics MPC, but it’s the first one I’ve ever noticed, and this is my eighth Olympics.

It has a couple of treadmills, a couple of elliptical trainers, an exercise bike, some free weights and a pulley workout machine. There’s even a shower.

Now I did have to wonder: Are two treadmills enough for 20,000 journalists? The more I thought about it, the more I figured: Probably so. After all, the world’s print journalists are not generally known for their devotion to fitness.

Sure enough, I’ve gone there to work out four or five times and only had to wait for a treadmill once. I got down on the floor to do an abs workout, and within a minute or two, a tread was available. I might have more trouble getting a treadmill if Runner’s World editor-at-large Amby Burfoot wasn’t nursing an injury, poor guy.

I run outside when I can. I’ve been here for 10 days now, and still have yet to be bothered by the air quality when I run outside. Hot, yes. Brutal humidity, definitely. But I’m having no trouble breathing.

But most days, I’m lucky to get 45 minutes to work out and it’s usually the hottest time of the day, so I resort to the workout room. I usually hate running on a treadmill, but here, they’re keeping me sane.

I did a Mt. Rainier speed climb little over 2 weeks ago and I believe set a new record — 4 hours 4 minutes roundtrip. Start is at Paradise parking lot 5400 ft elevation, summit is Columbia Crest 14411′ finish back at Paradise parking lot 5400′. About 9 miles each way. 9011′ each way.

I did a Mt. Rainier speed climb little over 2 weeks ago and I believe set a new record — 4 hours 4 minutes roundtrip. Start is at Paradise parking lot 5400 ft elevation, summit is Columbia Crest 14411′ finish back at Paradise parking lot 5400′. About 9 miles each way. 9011′ each way.